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Date of ultrasound: 12 January 2002
Aha, now I'm finally looking human! The doctor told my Mom so. Her response
was, "It's not an alien, thank GOD!!!" The doctor pointed out
two LONG legs, two arms, and a clearly recognizable bald head (hey, what
do you expect, long tresses?). I was stretching my legs and flailing my
arms about when they took this image. Mom can't feel my movements yet,
but expects to feel them any week from now.
And great news - Mom's morning sickness is finally over. No more throwing
up and catnaps in the afternoon, as she has also finally regained back
her energy. She is still sort of picky about foods, but mostly can eat
anything that doesn't smell too nasty. The only thing she can complain
about right now is her disappearing waistline, as she is already starting
to show!
Dad is finally relieved that the irritable days are finally over, and
Mom is back to her sweet ways again. :-)
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In the know:
The baby now has considerable hand and arm movement: it can make a fist,
move its thumbs, and bend its wrists. It is also better able to grasp
objects. All the body movements that the baby engages in right now constitute
practice. It takes some time for the nervous system and the muscles to
make smooth, synchronous movements. So these motions test the hook-ups
within the neuromuscular system. The baby is also exercising its tiny
muscles by moving them.
The baby's heart pumps about 25 quarts of blood a day during the fourth
month; that rate will increase to 300 quarts of blood a day by the time
it is born.
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